Outreach at Calvary

​​American Red Cross Blood Drive

Since 1995, Calvary has hosted an American Red Cross blood drive in the Parish Hall. Parishioners publicize the drive, contact and schedule donors, bake cookies for the donors, and prepare dinner for the workers. The next blood drive will be in the Spring of 2019.​For more information please contact Mary and Bob Hill.

​​Apostles' House: Feed the Solution

The mission of The Apostles’ House is “to provide comprehensive social services to homeless and at-risk families and individuals in the Newark area in an environment that encourages and enables self-sufficiency.” The Women of Calvary and individual parishioners donate money to purchase food for the Apostles' House Food Pantry.

​The Apostles’ House Food Pantry is a major resource which helps prevent or limit severe hunger in Newark and is one of the largest food pantries in Essex County.

The parishioners of Calvary have been strong supporters of the Apostles’ House Food Pantry. For many years, we have collected non-perishable food items in baskets at the back of the church. The Women of Calvary have contributed significant outreach funds to help the Apostles’ House Food Pantry and voted to do so again in 2017. These funds and other individual donations have been used primarily to purchase frozen chicken parts in bulk, an important source of protein.

As 2018 comes to a close, the need is as great as ever and you can help! There are at least two ways you can help:

By donating money to Calvary - make sure to designate that the contribution is for Apostles' House Food Pantry.

By placing nonperishable food in the baskets at the back of the church. Noe that since institutional size packages cannot be broken down into smaller quantities for individual families, they are discouraged.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to be part of this rewarding outreach program, please contact Dick or Brenda Ash.

Bridges

​Bridges reaches out to the homeless in New York City, Newark, Irvington, and Summit, New Jersey every week. Over 2,000 volunteers each year help deliver 65,000 meals, seasonal clothing, and necessities without question and with genuine respect.

​​Children in Outreach

Children In Outreach is for children 3 to 12 years of age. This ministry encourages young children to participate in outreach at their level of understanding. Four events will be held per year, in which these children and their families may come together in service. Announcements of events will be listed in The Canticle, bulletins and special emails. For more information, please contact children@calvarysummit.org. ​ ​Click hereto sign up online.

Code Blue

Calvary has started a new ministry!

When temperatures drop to dangerous lows, Calvary invite our "neighbors without addresses" into the parish house to have a safe and warm place to share a meal and spend the night.

When we host, we need someone to provide a meal for 7 to 10 men one of these nights. We also need volunteers to visit with our guests and someone to stay overnight.

​Community of St. John Baptist

Welcomes people to spend time with them for retreat and solitude, as well as for worship and fellowship. Each year, thousands of people visit the Community for retreats and workshops, spiritual direction, religious services, healing, and recreation. Besides the Convent and Retreat House, they also host Daytop New Jersey, where young people find new lives after battling addiction.

​For more information about the Community of St. John Baptist, we invite you to visit their website.

​Family Promise

Family Promise is a nonprofit organization committed to helping low-income families achieve lasting independence. At Calvary we host five families for 2 weeks in the fall and spring. We provide food, shelter, support, and encouragement for these families as they strive for a better life. Our volunteers provide food, fellowship, and stay overnight with our guests.

​Our next Family Promise hosting date is:

Sunday, 17 February through Sunday, 3 March 2019

Please plan now to be a part of this valuable ministry - there is a special need for folks to stay overnight in the Parish Hall with our guests.

Loaves and Fishes

​Food Collection on the First Sunday of Every MonthMonthly, Calvary Church holds a collection for the food pantry maintained in the basement at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Summit. A different food item is requested each month.

Sage

Sage provides a wide array of information, support, and services designed to help people lead the most independent and active lives possible. Services include Home Care, an Adult Day Program, Care Planning, Meals on Wheels, Information & Referrals, and Medicare Counseling.​To learn more about Sage, we invite you to visit their website.

​For more information please contact Carol Graham.

​​Senior Luncheons

​The Senior Luncheons are both a time of fellowship and outreach. This is a time when seniors from the nearby center join together with many of Calvary's parishioners and others from the community in the Parish Hall for a relaxed lunch, and often music led by our Organist-Choirmaster. ll luncheons are held Thursdays at 12 noon. ​

The next luncheon will be on:

​Thursday, April 11, 2019

For more information please contact Nancy Rice or the Parish Office at info@calvarysummit.org or 908-277-1814.

​Thanksgiving Dinner for the Community

Volunteers prepare and serve Thanksgiving dinner to members of our community, including residents from Summit’s Senior Housing. The Dinner is a wonderful opportunity to meet other members of Calvary and Summit's community while providing a warm and hospitable place for those who might be without family or a place to dine on Thanksgiving Day. Meal preparations usually begin around 9:00 am with dinner being served at 12:00 pm, following the worship service. Children are welcome.

Calvary's idea for a free community Thanksgiving dinner, open to anyone who wanted to celebrate with fine food and fellowship, has become a local institution.

Donations pour in - everything from rolls and butter, apple and pumpkin pies, to coupons and certificates for turkeys. Each year the setting of the tables, coloring menus, making decorations, preparing and serving food, waiting tables, and cleaning up are all done by a group of 25 to 60 volunteers. These dinners involve volunteers from many faith communities who enjoy working together.

If you'd like to be a part of these dinners, either as a volunteer, or as one of the guests, please call Calvary at 908.277.1814. We'd be glad to have you join us.

​​Summit Helping Its People (SHIP)

​The Summit Interfaith Clergy Fellowship formed a task force of clergy, public officials, and concerned citizens whose goal was to assist homeless and at-risk homeless not served by other programs. SHIP has served breakfast and provided a sack lunch every weekday using Calvary’s facilities since October 1991. SHIP provides over 16,000 meals annually.